International Day of the Girl
11-time Paralympic gold medal winner Sarah Storey in front of the pink London eye during the test lighting of the London eye (Photo: Anthony Devlin / PA)

TheInternational Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day declared by the United Nations. 11 October 2012, will be the first Day of the Girl. The observation supports more opportunity for girls, and increases awareness of inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender. This inequality includes areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination and violence.

un.org/en/events/girlchild
Girls face discrimination and violence every day across the world. The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.

dayofthegirl.orgInternational Day of the Girl is a movement...to speak out against gender bias and advocate for girls’ rights everywhere. Shatter stereotypes | End injustices | Demand equality | Change the world!

plan-uk.org/about-us/the-difference-we-make/international-day-of-the-girlFollowing an extensive campaign by Plan, in December 2011 the United Nations formally declared October 11 the International Day of the Girl. With the support of young people around the world, Plan led the call for a dedicated day in recognition of girls’ rights and accomplishments. This work formed part of ourBecause I am a Girlcampaign, which is helping millions of girls get the education and support they need to move themselves and their communities out of poverty.

bbc.co.uk/worldclassSchools debate: Day of the Girl ChildKey Points:Is it better for girls and boys to go to school together or separately? Why?Do you think girls are treated in the same way as boys where you live? Should they be?

unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/girl-childIn Focus: International Day of the Girl Child—My Life, My Right, End Child Marriage The day promotes girls’ human rights, highlights gender inequalities that remain between girls and boys and addresses the various forms of discrimination and abuse suffered by girls around the globe.

dfid.gov.uk/News/Latest-news/2012/International-Day-of-the-GirlToday is the first International Day of the Girl Child to recognise girls' rights and the unique challenges they face around the world. There are 250 million girls living poverty in the developing world. By giving girls greater choice and control over the decisions that affect them, we can help to break the cycle of poverty between one generation and the next. The focus of the first International Day of the Girl is child marriage. Every three seconds a girl in the poorest part of the world is forced to marry against her will.